Test strip measuring system

• US 6,315,951 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 11/13/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LRE Technology Partner GmbH
• Original Assignee: LRE Technology Partner GmbH
• Inventors: Markart, Ernst
• Primary Examiner(s): Warden, Jill
• Assistant Examiner(s): Handy, Dwayne K
• Application Number:
  US09/315,276
• Time in Patent Office: 908 Days
• Field of Search: 422/58, 422/61, 422/68.1, 422/82.01, 422/82.02, 422/83, 422/98, 422/99, 422/82.05, 422/82.06, 436/149, 436/150, 436/178
• US Class Current: 422/430
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 21/8483 Investigating reagent band test-element handling not specific to a test method G01N33/4875; analytical elements specific to chemical analysis of biological material G01N33/52; autometer with reagent band G01N35/04
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 33/48771 Coding of information, e.g. calibration data, lot number
• CPC Class Codes: G01N 35/00029 provided with flat sample substrates, e.g. slides G01N35/028 takes precedence

Abstract

In a test strip measuring system including a test strip with at least one test field and a measuring device for measuring optically or by means of electrical currents detectable values of the test field, a code carrier is provided for insertion into the measuring device along with the test strip. The code carrier, by way of an electronic memory, stores information used by the measuring device in measuring the test field of the test strip. The code carrier also includes a data processing device for reading the stored information from the memory and for supplying it to the measuring device. The selection of the program for reading the stored information from its memory and other factors are so controlled by controlled information supplied from the measuring device as to make it extremely difficult for copiers to make usable copies of the code carrier by merely copying the information stored in the code carrier memory.

Claims

1. A measuring system comprising:

a test strip (20) having at least one test field (26),

a measuring device (10) for optically or by way of electrical currents measuring the test field (26), and

a code carrier (24) separate from the test strip and replaceably insertable into and removable from the measuring device,

the code carrier carrying an electronic memory (30) for storing coded information about the test strip,

the code carrier also carrying a data processing device (32) for reading and transmitting the coded information stored by the electronic memory to the measuring device (10), and

the data processing device (32) being controllable from the measuring device (10) by variable control information supplied to the data processing device (32) by the measuring device (10).

2. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein:

the data processing device (32) in dependence on the control information selects one program from a number of programs contained in the data processing device for dealing with the coded information stored in the electronic memory (30).

3. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein:

a starting address of the stored coded information to be read out of the electronic memory (30) is selectable in dependence on the control information.

4. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a part of the coded information carried by the code carrier is the magnitude of a physically detectable value, and

the measuring device (10) has a sensor for detecting the magnitude of the physically detectable value.

5. A measuring system according to claim 4, wherein:

the physically detectable value is an outwardly non-visible ohmic resistance of a pregiven magnitude arranged on the code carrier.

6. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein:

the code carrier (24) has a shape with a characteristic contour (40, 42) which is complementary to a shape of a code carrier receiver (38) of the measuring device (10).

7. A measuring system according to claim 1, wherein:

contact elements (36) are provided on the code carrier (24), which contact elements are intended to come into contact with counter-contact elements in a code carrier receiver (38) of the measuring device (10),

the contact elements (36) and the counter-contact elements are arranged complementary to one another whereby the all of the contact elements (36) of an inserted code carrier (24) make contact with all of their respective counter-contact elements of the receiver (38) only if the contact elements (36) of the inserted code carrier are arranged complementary to the counter-contact elements of the receiver (38).